The Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak is reported to be keen on introducing a National Digital Currency called “Britcoin” which would be a direct equivalent to physical money. In reported plans it would be overseen by the Bank of England giving the Treasury the same control it does with Sterling. While some people may see this as a welcome
Read more
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has released its long awaited Green Paper on Disability. The paper reveals several things the DWP plan on implementing. One such changes is the introduction of a Severe Disability Group (SDG) for people will lifelong health conditions that are unlikely to improve. The DWP consultation titled: Shaping Future Support, The Health and Disability
Read more
Yesterday, the Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced that the unidentified person who tested positive for COVID-19 with the Brazil variant, had been traced. He was quick to heap praise on Contact Tracers for helping find the person. However, deep in most mainstream reports on the matter lies a fact nobody has noticed; The person was only identified when they called
Read more
In January I attended a medical to see of I was fit enough to donate stem cells. Just before Christmas I had come up as a match for someone the Bone Marrow and Stem Cell Register run by The Anthony Nolan Trust. After some basic blood samples by my GP, I embarked on a journey to Sheffield. This just happened
Read more
Buy now, pay later firms which offer short repayment periods are to face more scrutiny by The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) following a review by the government. These services allow customers to split payments and are initially interest free. This enables the customer to pay for items in instalments, with some allowing up to 30 days deferment to pay for
Read more
Today the Office for National Statistics (ONS) released their new figures regarding COVID-19 related deaths. The report states that 7,961 deaths involving COVID-19 were registered between 9th March and 28th December 2020 in the working age population for England and Wales It is reported that men working in caring, leisure and other service occupations have the highest mortality rates involving
Read more
Members of Parliament in Westminster are afforded a generous expenses package on top of their £81,932 yearly salary. These are meant to cover costs involved with representing their constituents. Travel, rent and staffing claims are the most common, but it appears some less essential items are also being claimed In the current tax year to date, Health Secretary Matt Hancock,
Read more
Today it was reported by the Office of National Statistics (ONS) that the average the rate of COVID-19 infection is 1.9 times higher amongst primary and secondary teachers, than in the general population. For teaching assistants, the rate of COVID infection is three times higher in primary schools. Despite this, the Government are using Lateral Flow tests against the Medicine
Read more
The final status of Kashmir is a shadow that has hung over India and Pakistan since the partition of British India in 1947. Indeed, it has been the main reason for hostilities between the two nuclear armed states over the years. While both countries initially agreed that the people of Kashmir should be allowed to decide their own future status,
Read more
A new report released by Justlife Foundation has shown that for many living in temporary homeless accommodation during the pandemic, life remains unchanged because they were “already self-isolating” before the COVID-19 crisis hit. This comes as the Westminster Government has given Local Authorities in England more money to help with homeless people. However, many council’s have said it’s simply not
Read more
Extra support to help protect rough sleepers and renters from the effects of COVID-19 has been announced by the Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick today, 8th January. Just yesterday we wrote of the lack of support being offered to renters and homeless people during the latest lockdown. Backed by an additional £10 million in funding, all councils in England are being asked to redouble their efforts
Read more
As we enter the third lockdown, over 76,000 deaths have been recorded as being COVID-19 related in the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland. Since the lockdown was announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson, there has been no mention of re-introducing the ban on tenants being evicted that was put in place last March. Nor have provisions for rough sleepers been
Read more
Yesterday saw Leader of the House of Commons Jacob Rees-Mogg, attack the United Nations Children’s Charity; UNICEF for pledging £25,000 to help feed children in South London. Mr Rees-Mogg called the action a “political stunt” after being challenged on why the UN aid agency’s new £700,000 fund to help community groups in the United Kingdom should even be required. While
Read more
The Leader of Greenwich Council has written to headteachers in the London borough advising them that they must ignore his previous direction to move lessons online until the Christmas holidays start on Thursday. Leader Dan Thorpe outlined that despite not agreeing with the decision, he had no choice in light of legal threats from the Education Secretary Gavin Williamson. As
Read more